A Chisasibi man perished in a boating accident while fishing on Wastawawmakw Lake September 24. Johnny Menarick was fishing with James Hill near kilometre 20 beach when an evening storm caught the men in rough waters. Their canoes capsized on their way back to shore.
Both men were wearing lifejackets and clung to their canoes. But Menerick eventually succumbed to hypothermia.
After reaching shore, Hill fashioned a makeshift paddle out of a tree branch, canoed back to his vehicle, and drove 16 kilometres to Chisasibi to notify officials of the accident.
A search party was quickly organized. Menerick’s body was found at 7:00 am the following day.
